Zahra Budhwani (they/them) is a queer, Desi Brooklyn-based director, puppeteer, performer, and teaching artist. Their work centers the deconstruction of the traditional audience/performer relationship, sensory storytelling, and play.

As a director, they have developed work with National Queer Theatre, The Tank, New Victory Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, Dixon Place, Prime Produce, Sanguine Theatre Company and more. Zahra is an alum of the Mercury Store Directing Lab, Roundabout Directors’ Group Cohort 5, and the 24 Hour Plays: Nationals. Recently, they spent a year developing 99 Plays of Allah with playwright Salwa Meghjee as part of Soho Rep’s Writer/Director Lab.

They have performed as a drag artist at venues around New York City, including The Tank, 3 Dollar Bill, Brooklyn Art Haus, Mayday Space, and Red Pavilion.

Zahra also teaches and makes theatre with students all over NYC with the New Victory Theatre, Opening Act, CO/LAB Theatre Group, and Broadway Bound Kids. Their educational works centers trauma-informed approaches and disability justice.They are a graduate of NYU, where they studied theatre at Playwright Horizons Theatre School and education.

Zahra loves the smell of oranges and coffee, entering bodies of water very slowly, and thinking about their next Halloween costume.